Enclosure in Sheskin (upperthird By.)

This is a roughly square area with rounded corners (int. dims. 13m N-S and E-W), defined by a broad earthen bank (Wth at crest 1.5m; overall Wth 1.7-3m; int. H 0.45—1m; ext. H 0.37-0.45m) with inner and outer stone revetment, though in some area this has been reduced to form a low, broad bank and the revetment is reduced to an inner and outer kerbing. The interior is sunken, however, while the ground surrounding the enclosure is very wet and muddy, the interior is dry. Within the interior there are two bedrock outcrops and in the S sector there is a large split boulder. The interior is quite overgrown with gorse and scrub. There is a stone-lined entrance in the SE sector (Wth 1.3m; L 3m) and to the S of the entrance, at the SE angle of the enclosure, there is a small rectangular stone feature, possibly the base of a gate pier. At a distance of 7.2m to the SW there is a small stone structure (H c. 1m; L c. 2m) of rough walling which is described by the present landowner as the remains of a windmill. This may have been related to the meteorological activities of Joseph Grubb who, in 1899, built the nearby Sheskin House, 150m to the SE, and who had a keen interest in geology, botany and archaeology (Ahern 2009, 284-5). The enclosure seems be that which is described and published in 1944 by Joseph’s daughter Isabel Grubb, as a ‘prehistoric burial site’. It is described by Ms. Grubb (1944, 176) as measuring, ‘roughly thirty-five feet [10.67m] from north to south and twenty-five [7.62m] from east to west. The main “chamber” consists of a box-like structure formed of slabs mostly tilted out of place, and one has fallen into the central hole making the entrance to the space under it too small to permit of examination. These stones measure on average 4ft. [1.2m] by 2½ft. [0.76m] by 2ft. [0.6m], which may have been the capstone. Immediately south of the “chamber” is a piece of apparently unmoved bed rock about 7ft. [2.1m] by 4ft. [1.2m]. At a distance of several feet from the central group upright stones form an oval round the whole, with a second line of stones less regular within the outer line. These stones average about 3ft. [0.9m0] by 2½ft. [0.76m] by 2ft. [0.6m], the inner ones being smaller. Some are tilted and some appear to have been smashed. All are much weathered’. The date and function of this enclosure are unknown. Though the enclosure may be modern, it seems probable that it pre-dates Sheskin House and any accompanying landscaping of the grounds, as it seems likely that Ms. Grubb would have been familiar with any landscape features created by her father. The 1st ed. (1841) 6-inch OS map shows bog/marsh land in this area before Sheskin House was built. Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 14 March 2017